Shattered Reality

Her father gripped the door tightly, his jaw working, as he tried to figure out his words. He finally slammed the door shut before twisting the locks on the door in a quick and concise manner.

Felicity's reality shattered with the next words that came out of her father's mouth. She didn't know what she was expecting but knew what was to come. And unfortunately, she was correct.

"There are monsters outside," her father said calmly bringing his hands together for a moment.

There was no outward reaction from her mother or Aston except for the widening of eyes, waiting on the elaboration of the situation. Felicity watched quietly from her spot at the window, casting her eyes out the glass to see the world completely normal. But a few miles away could tell a different story. "

What do you mean?" Aston asked slowly.

"I was coming back to the house but had to take a detour since the main roads were blocked off," her father said before calmly loosening his tie. But he was far from calm, judging by his shaking hands.

Her mother went to go comfort him without another question, and they sat down on the opposite side of the sofa while her mother rubbed her father's back while he put his head in his hands.

Silence blanketed the house, and Aston finally slid his phone into his pocket. Felicity met his eyes, and Aston shook his head, clearly texting his friends about the matter.

Aston quirked his brow and crossed his arms. "Where did you see the monsters? Around here?"

Felicity still didn't go forth to deny or confirm her father's claims or go hit Aston to smack some sense into him for his sarcastic tone. It was not going to be a fun game if nothing was getting handled properly.

"They are on the south side of town," her father said. "The SWAT team or someone was there fighting them."

"Do the people fighting back look like law enforcement?" Felicity lightly asked.

"I couldn't tell from the distance, but they were wearing interesting colored suits. Although, the monsters... were clear and wouldn't die by bullets."

Felicity blinked, disbelieving. She has heard what she needed to confirm her theory. They were here. How? An engyure must have opened in town. But how? She got up and started to pace back and forth near the window, as she nervously chewed her lip.

Dragging her phone out of her pocket, she slid up and into her messaging app to see if any of her friends had texted her. Isla had texted her privately, and Felicity immediately pulled up the message.

Isla: Don't go outside! The police force is on the move.

Felicity: Is there any news out yet?

Isla: There are no reporters for some reason or any news of what's happening currently in the city.

Felicity palmed the phone in her hand before thinking of a reply. She didn't want to make Isla think that she had information, so she ended it with a sincere "stay safe." Felicity scrolled through her messages, but none of them were immediate.

Aston was also on his phone but didn't seem to get any more material, looking at his uninterested face and agile fingers. Looking back on it, most students that were chosen for the tests had never seen what the creature looked like—more so killed one.

She got that exact feeling when Obrien had been surprised to see that she and Leo actually succeeded in the mission. They were never supposed to in the first place.

No one was taught how to use their weapons when they were abruptly let off during the physical test as if the authorities immediately expected everyone to know how to wield the affinity weapons.

It caused more chaos to those around them, adding to the injuries admitted during the time of testing. It posed the question as to why they wanted the physical test in the first place.

Felicity knew it had to be along the lines of what Obrien called bonding with the weapons. That would have made more sense as the true objective. Felicity shook her head before pinching herself. She couldn't get off-task now.

Glancing at the door and then at her parents, Felicity grimaced but had to come to the inevitable solution. She had to get out there and see for herself what was happening.

Her life was in danger if she chose do what her gut was telling her to do, but she didn't do it correctly, then who would? Felicity didn't have her affinity weapon with her, but she couldn't sit around without seeing it for herself.

She stalked towards the door, grabbing her car keys that were on the hook nearby the thin table that was pressed along the wall of their entryway, and her father raised his head in alarm.

Felicity gripped the doorknob and was about to twist it when Aston came and shoved her away from the door.

"What do you think you are doing?" Aston accused.

She didn't answer and unlatched the door, making her mother spring up from the sofa and grab her arm.

"Felicity. Stop," her mother pressed.

"I need to go out there," Felicity said. "You don't understand, but I'll be back. I promise."

Her father stood. "It's not safe. The police and rioters are already in the area. What do you think you can do?"

Felicity could feel her heart start to racket up, and she raised a hand. "Listen to me. I need to see what is happening there."

Aston adamantly shook his head. "We need to live this to the police to get it settled."

"You don't understand," Felicity said while running a frustrated hand through her hair.

"Does this have to do with the testing you did?" her mother's eyes went soft.

"Please," Felicity whispered. "I will promise I'll be back."

"Don't make promises," her mother said, as she touched her daughter's cheek.

Felicity nodded her head and understood her mother's sentiment. "I will try my best. I have so many questions, it drives me insane."

"And what makes you think that you are going to find the answers?" Aston sighed.

"Just look out there!" Felicity yelled.

The red was spreading deeper throughout the sky, lighting up the clouds in an unnatural pink hue along with the sun.

She pushed Aston to the side, making him tumble, and yanked open the door, getting out of her family's grip who was screaming behind her. Her heart broke at how wretched they sounded, but she was going to be back. She needed to see if the creatures were the ones that she had seen during the test.

Felicity sprinted to her car that was parked in the driveway and got inside, locking the doors before immediately backing out of the driveway with a speed that her father would likely admonish her for and make her mother have a heart attack.

She glanced back and saw Aston running after her car, and her parents standing at the front door with their mouths hung open and furious expressions. She rolled down the windows with the wind blasting through the car, making her hair take flight around her.

"I'll call you guys soon!"